Draft rigging



May l, 1934. G, F, COUCH 1,956,563

DRAFT RIGGING Filed March 2, 1928 w mv FlG.2

gmmo@ G/enn F Couch Patented May l, 1934 UETED STATES PATENT orifice DRAFT RIGGING Application March 2, 1928, Serial No.'258,664

8 Claims.

This invention relates to railway draft rigging and more particularly to a form thereof in which the draft gear barrel is formed with forwardly extending portions functioning as a horizontal yoke.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to simplify railway draft rigging by combining the draft gear barrel or casing and the yoke forming one integral casting and thereby providing a stronger barrel for the gear while at the same time economizing in the use of metal.

An object of my invention is to provide a cast draft gear barrel which, instead of being adapted for positioning between the arms of a yoke when in service, is formed with extensions from the ends thereof functioning as the forward portions of a yoke, said extensions being preferably cast integral with the barrel.

Another object of my invention is to provide a draft rigging with a swivel butt coupler in combination with draft gear involving a barrel or casing integrally formed with arms functioning as a yoke for connecting said barrel with the coupler.

A further object of my invention is to provide a draft gear casing or barrel with forwardly extending arms functioning as a horizontal yoke, each of said arms comprising vertically spaced portions leaving an aperture therebetween for receiving the second key employed in a two-key draft rigging whereby said second key is permitted to move rearwardly upon the application of bufng forces independently of the draft gear barrel and yoke.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is dened by the appended claims:

Figure 1 is a partial plan and partial horizontal sectional view of railway draft rigging embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the draft rigging illustrated in Figure l.

Referring to the drawing in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, there are shown portions of the center sills 1 of a car, the outer ends of which are connected to a combined striking casting and sill tie member 2, and intermediate portions of which are connected to an associated back stop 3. are slotted, as indicated at 4, and have applied thereto cheek plates 5 of usual character con- Said sills nected by rivets or the like, as will be understood. Each of said cheek plates 5 is provided with a forward slot 6 and a rear slot 7 for receiving the usual horizontal keys 8 and 9, respectively. 60

Positioned between the sills 1 and adjacent the back stop 3 and normally abutting said back stop, is a cushioning mechanism or draft gear l0 enclosed in a casing or barrel 11 which, in the present embodiment, opens forwardly and the sides thereof are formed with integral forward extensions 12, the front ends of which are slotted at 13, thereby adapting said extensions to function as the forward portions of a horizontal yoke. The extensions 12 preferably start from the corners of the barrel 1l as vertically spaced portions or arms 14 and 15, leaving a relatively large aperture 16 therebetween in the vicinity of the second or rearwardly positioned key 9, thereby permitting said key and the associated partsr to ,75 move rearwardly with respect to said arms and draft gear barrel. After the arms unite the forward portions thereof preferably taper and curve around the slotted front ends in the manner illustrated. In order to strengthen the spaced portions 14 and l5 while at the same time providing for properly positioning the enclosed parts, said arms are preferably formed with inwardly extending beading or ribbing 17 which discontinues and merges into the main webbing of the respective arms shortly beyond where said arms unite. Each arm is, therefore, formed of angularly disposed flanges deiining the corners of a space adapted to receive associated parts of the draft rigging. .d

The associated drawbar or coupler 18 is positioned with the stem thereof passing through the opening in the combined striking casting 2 with the rear end thereof disposed between the arms 12 from the draft gear barrel 1l. In the present 95 embodiment said coupler is shown as of the swivel butt type but I do not wish to be limited thereto. The rear end of the stem for that purpose is formed with vertically spaced flanges 19 and 20, the rear ends of which are co-axially curved with. respect to registering apertures 21 therethrough for receiving a pin 22 which serves for pivotally connecting `said coupler stem to the associated swivel block 23. Said swivel block for that purpose is formed with forwardly extending flanges between which are provided pockets formed to receive the flanges 19 and 20 on the coupler and permit pivotal motion therebetween. The upper and lower surfaces of the upper and lower walls or webs respectively of the swivel block 23 are desir- Nfio Veven after wear or removal of said keys.

ably formed with transversely spaced apertured lugs 24 which are adapted to receive fiat retainers 25 which preferably engage correspondingly notched portions in the ends of the pivot pin 22, thereby holding said pin in the desired position and preventing pivotal motion between said pin and swivel block. In this way the wear on the pin is practically restricted to the points of engagement between it and the coupler.

The second or rear key 9 serves to support and connect the front follower 26 to the cheek plates and center sills of the car. Said front follower is for that purpose desirably slotted for receiving said key and provided with a forwardly extending tongue 27 interlocking with the swivel block 23. Preferably positioned between the rear face of the follower 26 and the friction elements of the draft gear l0 is an intermediate follower or replaceable wear plate 28. For properly supporting the draft gear barrel and intermediate follower or wear plate 28, any usual or desired form of carrier iron, not shown, may be provided.

Upon the application of draft forces to the cou Vpier 18 such forces are transmitted through the pivot pin 22, which is thereby placed in quadruple shear, to the associated swivel block 23, and front draft key 8 to the slotted portions of the arms l2, thereby moving the barrel ll forwardly, compressing the draft gear and transmitting forces therethrough to the follower plate 2S, front follower 26, and rear or second key 9 tc the cheek plates and sills of the car. Upon the application of bufling forces, however, such forces are directly transmitted from the coupler through the swivel block 23, follower 26 and follower plate 28, to compressv the draft gear l0 directly against the back stop 3 and thereby transmit such forcesl to the center sills of the car.

From the foregoing disclosure it will be seen that I have provided an improved and simplified form of draft rigging involving a draft gear barrel or casing with forwardly extending arms functioning as a yoke. Although in the present embodiment said arms function as a horizontal yoke it is obvious that I am only limited by the scope of the claims. Intermediate the barrel and the forward slotted ends, said arms preferably involve spaced portions permitting the necessary relative movement of the front follower and supporting key and at the same time economize in the use of metal and provide a rigid construction. The arms are further rigidified by forming them angular in section at their intermediate portions or providing them with inwardly extending `beading or flanges 17 at the upper edges of the upper portions and the lower edges of the lower portions, which beading embraces the swivel block 23 and front follower 26, providing auxiliary guiding means therefor, which are particularly effective during assembly prior to the insertion. of the keys 8 and 9, or for maintaining alignment of the parts Although the arms are formed integral with the barrel yet they preferably do not abruptly stop at the front edge thereof but are continued as ribbing or outwardly extending flanges 29 to the rear wall 30 of the barrel, which wall is of ample strength to function not only as the end of the barrel but, also as the rear or U-shaped portion of a yoke.

Having thus escribed my invention, I claim:

1. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a draft gear, a barrel therefor, a pair of vertically spaced arms, angular in section to provide guides for associated parts, starting at and extending forwardly from each side of said barrel and integral therewith, one pair of arms being laterally spaced from the other pair to accommodate a drawbar therebetween, the arms being continued, in effect, along the sides of the barrel as reinforcing ribbing, the front ends of said vertically spaced arms uniting with a slotted forwardly tapering portion, a coupler positioned between said slottediiportions and correspondingly slotted, and a key extending through the slots in said members.

2. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a draft gear, a barrel therefor, integral arms angular in section extending forwardly from said barrel and slotted at their forward ends, a front follower embraced between the arms of said barrel, a swivel block engaging the front face of said follower and provided with forwardly opening pockets, said follower and swivel block being embraced between said angular arms a coupler provided with rearwardly extending flanges received in said pockets for pivotal motion with respect thereto, a vertical pivot pin intersecting said coupler and swivel block permitting pivotal mo- F tion therebetween, and a horizontal key inter-10G secting said coupler, swivel block and arms for operatively connecting the members.

3. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a draft gear, a barrel therefor, arms extending for wardly from said barrel, a coupler stern extending Cf05 between said arms, inwardly extending flanges on the upper and lower edges of said arms overlying and underlying said stem for guiding it, and a key extending through slots in said arms A and stem for operatively connecting the members, T the slots in said arms being extended rearwardly to permit rearward motion of theY coupler and relieve the key and arms of bufling forces.

4. A cast draft gear barrel member adapted to function as a combined draft gear barrel andf`f15 horizontal yoke and provided with forwardly extending arms flanged along their upper and lower edges to provide-walls adapted to overlie and underlie associated draft rigging parts and slotted at their forward ends for receiving a horizontal 530 key for connecting it to an associated coupler.

5. A combined draft gear barrel comprising a mechanism housing and two pairs of vertically spaced arms, angular in section to provide for guiding an associated part, extending forwardlyfl25 from the upper and lower edges of each side of said barrel and integral therewith, the pair at one side being laterally spaced from the other pair to accommodate an associated drawbar therebe-v tween, the front ends of each pair of said verti-CYSO cally spaced arms uniting with a slotted forwardly tapering portion adapted for connection with an associated coupler, and the rear ends of said arms merging with reinforcing ribbing extending along the sides of the barrel for sub-@35 stantially the full length thereof.

6. In a railway draft rigging, in combination, a draft gear, a barrel therefor, angular arms extending forwardly from four corners of said barrel and comprising flanges extending toward ad-lfl() jacent arms, the front ends of the pairs of arms at each side thereof being joined and slotted at their forward ends for receiving a draft key, a front follower disposed between the arms of said barrel, a coupler stem engaging the front face offlfi-.fj said follower, said follower and stem being embraced between, and kept in alignment by, the flanges of said arms, and a horizontal key intersecting said stem and slotted arms for operatively connecting the members.

7. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a draft gear, a barrel for enclosing the mechanism thereof, integral draft members angular in section extending forwardly from four corners of said barrel and involving flanges extending toward adjacent members to dei-lne the corners of a rectangular space therebetween, said space starting at and extending forwardly from said barrel, the pairs of draft members at each side of the barrel being united and slotted at their forward ends, a coupler stem received in the space between said flanges, a follower disposed in said space rearwardly of said stem and guided by said anges, and a key extending through the slots in said members and a corresponding slot in said stem.

8. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a draft gear, a casing therefor, an arm extending forwardly from each of four corners of said casing, integral therewith, and the pairs at the sides of the casing being united and formed with slots at their forward ends for receiving a horizontal key, a front follower embraced between the arms of said casing, a draw-bar engaging the front face of said follower, and a horizontal key intersectng said drawbar and received in the slots in said arms for operatively connecting the members on draft, the slots being elongated rearwardly of the normal position of the key for permitting rearward movement of the drawbar and follower with respect to the casing on buff.

GLENN F. COUCH.

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